Uber to Let Women Choose Women Drivers in U.S. Pilot Program

NEW YORK – In a move aimed at improving safety and comfort for its users, Uber will soon allow women drivers and passengers to opt into a feature that increases the likelihood they’ll be matched only with other women.

Starting next month, the ride-hailing giant will begin piloting the initiative in three U.S. cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. The feature enables female riders to set a preference in the app to be paired with female drivers when booking or pre-scheduling rides. Women drivers can also indicate a preference to pick up women passengers.

While not a guaranteed match, Uber says the tool significantly raises the chances that women riders and drivers will be paired together. The company emphasized that the goal is to enhance autonomy and peace of mind for female users.

“This is about providing women with more control, more comfort, and more choice as they use the platform,” said Camiel Irving, head of operations for Uber in the U.S. and Canada.

The idea has already been tested in international markets, including France, Germany, and Argentina, and follows similar safety-focused innovations. Uber previously introduced a women-rider preference for female drivers in Saudi Arabia in 2019 — shortly after women were granted the legal right to drive. That option was eventually expanded to dozens of other countries.

Uber and its competitor Lyft have faced ongoing scrutiny over safety issues on their platforms, particularly regarding harassment and assault allegations. In recent years, both companies have rolled out measures to address these concerns, including in-app emergency features, ID verification, and teen safety settings.

Lyft launched a similar “Women+ Connect” feature in late 2023, matching women and nonbinary drivers with riders who identify similarly.

Uber’s U.S. pilot marks a significant step toward greater user personalization and could pave the way for a broader rollout if successful.